Mines Road Recap

[Veronica]

I decided to start a new thread to describe the actual ride.

SK, Jobob, MP, akaKim, BikeMomma, and Bike Goddess were there from TE. There was also a group from BG's bike club, a guy from my club, Patric, my honey, Thom, Robert of 508 and soon to be RAAM rider fame and Glen, I'm not sure where he fits in.

We took off about 9:20 and it was already a bit warmer than I would like. I started off riding and chatting with MP. My HR quickly shot up and my monitor was beeping. And pretty much beeped for the next 30 miles.

We had a partial regroup after the first big climb. The route then becomes fairly rolling, a steady one percent grade for the next twenty miles or so. Kim passed me and said Patric was having some mechanical problems, but Thom was with him so I wasn't worried. I expected Thom to catch up with me, but he didn't and he didn't. I eventually turned around and went back to see where he was. He had had some brake issues and the heat was really getting to him. This was after all our first really hot ride of the season, and he doesn't acclimate to the heat as quickly as I do.

We discussed where we thought the next regroup would be, so we could tell the group that we were going to bag the ride. He just wasn't having fun. After about 12 miles we eventually caught up with Kim, Patric and Jo, who had stopped to refill water bottles. By this time Thom was feeling better and quickly left me in the dust.

There are two little climbs about five miles before the Junction and then a 2.5 mile descent. We had a full regroup at the Junction Cafe and a resupply of water and Gatorade. I talked with Robert a bit about HR. He reassured me that it's normal for the heat to cause your HR to be 5 - 8 beats higher. This is my first season of really paying attention to my HR. And in the past, I've been able to get the beeper to stop beeping without too much difficulty. I have my next double next weekend (and dang it I WANT to finish this one!) and it's going to be just as hot if not more so.

I wasn't looking forward to the climbs back out of the Junction. It was hot and the last time I rode them was after going to the Summit of Hamilton and I felt horrible on these climbs then. Amazingly, I didn't feel horrible at all yesterday. In fact on the second one, I remarked to Jo that this is the kind of riding I like.

Once over the two climbs, the four of us at the back regrouped in a shady spot. Then Thom and I pacelined back for about 10 miles to mile 12 on the road where he had dropped a Gu. Unfortunately it had gotten run over, but he picked up his trash. Patric and I then took off and zoomed through the furnace that was the last downhill. We stopped again in the shade to wait for Thom and Jo. That Jo has become a wicked good descender since I last rode with her. Woooohooo for Jo! Another convert to the fast is fun group!

We then pacelined out to the end of the road where the rest of the group was waiting. It was about 4 miles out to the cars at this point and Thom tells me not to stop. I continue pulling my little train at about 18 mph. But my HR is climbing, climbing climbing. Four riders from the other group pass us like we're standing still. Man, MP and BikeMomma are fast! My HR is now up above 180, which puts me solidly in the puke zone and I start to coast. Thom hollers, "Don't coast!" I yell back, "I'm going hurl!" So he says, "Go the back!" Man, life at the back of the paceline is way better. We were still doing around 18, but within a few seconds the urge to puke was gone and the HR dropped.

We hung around the cars for a bit yakking and drinking the sodas Robert bought. Three cheers for Robert! I don't think a 7 Up has ever tasted so good!

Then the TE ladies, except BikeMomma, who needed to go go be mom, it being Mother's Day after all, Patric and Thom went and had pizza and beer.

It seemed to be a good ride, although a "bit" warm, for all. Pictures were taken of the group at the Junction Cafe. Hopefully someone will post them. My average speed was 1.5 miles higher to the Junction, then it was on DMD. I guess 91 miles and 9,000 feet of climbing really does take a toll. Duh!

V.